The 27-year-old netted the opening goal of the game, which the Magpies went on to win 2-1, but had to be replaced by Shola Ameobi in the second half.

However, Pardew remains enthusiastic about the striker's chances of recovering in time for the trip to Anfield and expressed confidence over his squad depth regardless.

"Demba has a knock but he still has a good chance," he told reporters. "He will come into my thinking tomorrow. If he doesn't play we can still win."

The Tyneside outfit has failed to post victory at Anfield since 1994, a record that Pardew attributes to the ground's special atmosphere.

"This side have only been once," he continued. "Going to Anfield can be emotional. It is such an emotional start [in reference to You'll Never Walk Alone anthem]. You can get wrapped up in it. We need to play the game."

The 51-year-old agreed that the two clubs also share similar targets this season, but thinks that the Merseyside outfit has more pressure due to its past achievements.

"We are two clubs very similar at the moment," he added. "There is more pressure [on them] because of what they won. But both of us have ambitions of top six or top four."